Latest news with #situationalawareness
Yahoo
4 minutes ago
- Business
- Yahoo
EOTECH Acquires VK Integrated Systems, Expands into Tactical Networking and Battlefield Sensor Integration
EoTak Command Cente All components fit neatly into a modular stock compatible with LEO and Military rifles Field use of the EoTak system Integrated in the buttstock of a rifle, EoTak enables full situational awareness Command Center Compact systems integrated into the grips of duty weapons for law enforcement Core Components of Operational Readiness Operators utilizing EoTak for operational awareness and coordination PLYMOUTH, Mich., July 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a strategic move to expand its role in the defense technology ecosystem, EOTECH announced today the acquisition of VK Integrated Systems (VKIS), a Tennessee-based developer of advanced weapon electronics and battlefield networking solutions. The acquisition continues EOTECH's evolution beyond optics into a vertically integrated, American-made defense platform focused on situational awareness, data integration, and mission-ready systems.'This is a continuation of our thesis,' said Joseph Caradonna, CEO of EOTECH. 'We're building an integrated, American-made platform for mission-critical awareness, where hardware, software, and sensors work as one. It's a systems architecture approach, not just a product expansion.'Founded in 2014, VKIS specializes in real-time warfighter technologies, including TAK-based situational awareness tools, weapon-mounted sensors, and edge-computing systems. These capabilities directly support U.S. efforts to digitize the battlefield, modernize legacy systems, and bring C5ISR functionality closer to the tactical Capabilities Now Joining EOTECH Include: Weapon Electronics & Sensors – Devices like the SIOS and VICE modules provide real-time orientation and targeting data from the weapon platform. TAK Server as a Service (TSaaS) – Turnkey GovCloud solutions for secure deployment of TAK infrastructure. ATAK Plugin Development – Custom extensions to the Android Team Awareness Kit (ATAK) ecosystem. TAK Stack – A free-use platform that simplifies access to geospatial maps, plugins, and field tools. 'EOTECH's scale and trust in the field make this a natural fit,' said Vasilios Kapogianis, President and CEO of VKIS. 'Our mission has always been to give warfighters more awareness, more control, and more survivability. With EOTECH, we can deliver that capability faster and further.'VKIS will continue operations from its Clarksville, Tennessee headquarters. The acquisition follows a string of U.S. defense investments aimed at tightening supply chains and scaling dual-use systems that blend rugged hardware with real-time software integration. About EOTECHEOTECH is a U.S.-based defense technology company known for inventing the original Holographic Weapon Sight (HWS) and supplying cutting-edge optics and sensors used on platforms including the F-35 and AH-64 Apache. Headquartered in Plymouth, Michigan, EOTECH has evolved into a vertically integrated platform delivering American-made optics, thermal and night vision systems, and now battlefield networking technologies. Its mission-critical products are trusted by U.S. and allied special operations forces, law enforcement, and defense partners worldwide. Media Contact:Amy Foster, 4media Photos accompanying this announcement are available at while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Fox News
23-06-2025
- Fox News
American travelers should know escape routes at transit hubs after Iran strikes, security expert warns
After the U.S. airstrikes crippled Iranian nuclear sites on Saturday night, a travel security expert said it is imperative for Americans to have a plan to escape to safety in the event of an attack on a travel hub. Robert McDonald was a Secret Service agent for more than 20 years and is an expert in executive protection, intelligence and protective travel logistics. During that time, he coordinated security for U.S. and foreign dignitary visits. Now, he is a professor of criminal justice at the University of New Haven. "There are those type of areas where people are coming and going. People are transient. Lots of people go there every day," he told Fox News Digital in reference to airports and bus and train stations. "Anything can happen at any time. Again, you've just got to be able to be cognizant of your surroundings, be situationally aware and be able to get yourself out of a situation if something was to happen." "We don't wish anything to happen, but you just got to be able to get yourself out of a particular zone relatively quick," he said. The same principle applies to any crowded place, both indoors and out, McDonald said. Being "situationally aware" includes being on the lookout for anything that seems out of place in day-to-day life. He clarified that "out of place" is different for everyone. "For example, if you go to a mall or Times Square and you see a backpack lying on the corner with nobody around it, or it hasn't moved in a while, you might want to report that," he said. "If there are particular cars in and around your neighborhood that are not normally there, it could be nothing," McDonald said. "It could be a visitor to your neighbor, but it could be something out of the ordinary that you would want to potentially report." With regard to reporting suspicious activity, McDonald assured Americans that law enforcement entities want to be tipped off to anything suspicious, even if it turns out there is no threat. "Authorities want to hear from you and want to be able to investigate things that are out of the ordinary," he said. "You may be the only person that's noticing that something is out of the ordinary, and we have a responsibility to pass that information forward to authorities. Let them come and decide that the issue is a non-issue, right." Since Saturday's bombings in Iran, a leading state sponsor of Islamic terrorism, major metropolitan areas including New York, Los Angeles, Washington and Miami have stepped up security protocols. Fox News contributor Paul Mauro, a former NYPD inspector who monitored terror cells, told Fox News Digital that police are upping patrols, particularly at relevant religious sites, and also monitoring for online chatter from potential terror threats. "[NYPD] will put out special attention patrol cars at locations that could track to the conflict in places that have an Israeli connection, and there's a couple of Shia mosques – Iran is Shia – and there are a couple of Shia mosques," Mauro told Fox News Digital. "You never know what's going to develop. So [they'll] liaise with those communities. They'll talk to them, they'll put special patrol, special attention patrol." "You're going to look very closely online," he said. "You're going to be monitoring a lot of the online stuff. NYPD has a very robust cyber counterterrorism program, and you're going to do that very heavily."
